19 May Meet the Team: Dan LaTorraca, Marketing Director
At Zoomph, we know that innovation starts with people. That’s why we’re proud to spotlight the talented minds that help define our mission and support your goals. Our “Meet the Team” Q&A series offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people driving our success, highlighting their skills, insights, and unique perspectives. Get to know the people that shape our culture and power Zoomph.
Starting simple, give us your backstory and how you’ve gotten to your place today at Zoomph.
I was born and raised in North Jersey and went to the University of Scranton for undergrad and Canisius University for grad school. Before joining Zoomph, I spent six years with the Carolina Hurricanes as the Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy. Prior to that, I was the Senior Director of Digital and Social for Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment and the Manager of Digital Content & Strategy for the Carolina Panthers.
What is your favorite part about working at Zoomph?
While I truly love the platform, the best part of working at Zoomph is the people. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie, with everyone united by a shared drive to win together and help our customers succeed.
We carry a collective chip on our shoulders – it feels like we’re all pulling the same rope. What really sets the culture apart is the empathy and compassion across the company. It’s a place where great people come together to do great work.
What does a day in your life at Zoomph look like?
I love that every day is different. Working remotely – and not working in a football stadium or hockey arena – took some getting used to. Outside of meetings, my days are spent helping further defining and executing our marketing strategy and supporting the organization in our various strategies to drive business growth. I love that I get to spend more time analyzing social and broadcast content and sponsorship activations across the sports landscape.
What is a professional accomplishment that you are extremely proud of?
I will always be proud of the role I played in the “Bunch of Jerks” campaign with the Carolina Hurricanes. Probably the busiest weekend of my life – but it was so much fun bringing it to life.
To create a campaign that gave Hurricanes fans a sense of community and identity is something I will cherish forever. The fact that it also generated millions in retail revenue is an added bonus.
We’re a bunch of jerks and we have the shirts to prove it.
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 17, 2019
Available later this week at The Eye. pic.twitter.com/TEefqETEau
What is one goal you’re currently working towards professionally?
Right now, I’m fully embracing the shift to B2B marketing after spending many years focused on B2C.
The tech landscape is certainly different from the sports world but it’s just as dynamic and rewarding. While there’s plenty to learn, I’m also finding valuable opportunities to apply the strategies and insights that worked well in my previous roles.
What is your favorite product function or tip you can share about Zoomph’s platform?
I could spend hours in Benchmark – it reminds me so much of the best parts of CrowdTangle, but with even deeper metrics and functionality. It’s the ultimate tool for social content research and ideation. I wish I had something like this in my Carolina Panthers social media marketing days.
My best Zoomph tip is to make sure many people in your organization have access. Speaking from experience, a major benefit of Zoomph is that it can help different departments in different ways while connecting the digital, partnerships and business intelligence teams.
Reliable data validates strategy and can bring folks together for the common cause of driving more revenue – which helps get more staff and resources.
The more people using the platform, the more insights can be unlocked.
Why are you a believer in Zoomph and its product?
As a former customer, Zoomph was one of our most important and reliable tools at the Carolina Hurricanes – it helped validate our social strategy while helping generate more revenue through sponsored content.
The data was so valuable for recap reports and enhancing pitch decks for major deals like jersey patch sponsorships and arena naming rights.
The value went beyond just sponsorship revenue – Zoomph also helped me make a strong case to add creative and social staff to our marketing team.
Beyond the platform, the account management team was always a great resource – pretty much acting as an extension of our own department.
These experiences motivated me when the opportunity to join Zoomph arose – I want every sports team to experience those benefits.
What are your favorite sports teams?
I’m a big Yankees and Nets fan. Growing up in New Jersey in the ’90s and early 2000’s made that especially fun. My wife and kids love watching the Carolina Panthers together as a family every Sunday during football season too.
What was the first concert you attended?
Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Continental Airlines Arena in 2002.
Give a shout-out to a team or brand campaign that has gotten your attention recently
On the sports side, I’ve been incredibly impressed with the creative and social media content coming out of NASCAR lately. It feels fresh and fun but also maintains authenticity. Any time the post I have to stop my scroll.
Outside of sports, one brand that consistently stands out to me is Sesame Workshop / Sesame Street. They approach social media with such a unique and creative thoughtfulness while remaining adaptive and on-brand. Nothing ever feels forced.
